Case No. 1300Assault, criminal damage (overturning tractor with driver inside) · Co. Kildare · 6 May 2025
Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming in Newbridge
Tom O'Shea of Newbridge, Co Kildare, allegedly used his tracked digger to overturn an ESB tractor with the driver inside on 6 May 2025 to prevent tree trimming on his land. The ESB is seeking a High Court injunction after O'Shea was arrested, his firearm seized, and he subsequently locked a gate blocking access to the land.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports8 statements extracted from the articles
- whatO'Shea used his tracked digger to tip over the tractor with the driver inside (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo injured parties were taken to hospital (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere are four lines on the land with a serious risk of supply disruption (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo 110kV lines serve the greater eastern and midland region and a 38kV line serves around 18,000 customers (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe land is under the Cushaling-Newbridge 110kV overhead lines (irishtimes.com)
- whenO'Shea had previously interfered with tree trimming efforts in 2009 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe ESB attended the land on 6 May 2025 to start cutting back growth (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case could come back before the court on Friday due to urgency (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Jul2025Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming, court told
High Court hearing on ESB's application for an injunction to access the land; O'Shea was arrested and his firearm seized following the incident; two ESB workers were injured and taken to hospital.
suspect, male, irish (judged from name)victim